Wyre Forest

Wyre Forest's population grew older in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in relationships, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 98,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Wyre Forest increased by 1.0%, from almost 97,000 to 98,000.

The addition of almost 1,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wyre Forest was home to, on average, 3.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wyre Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wyre Forest increased by four years, from 40 to 44 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than the West Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 15% of people in Wyre Forest are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wyre Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with adult children living with their parents

Wyre Forest saw England's second-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households in Wyre Forest had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 29% to 26%.

The largest decrease occurred in Hinckley and Bosworth (from 11% to 9.7%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Wyre Forest

The percentage of Wyre Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.1% to 4.1% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 14 (7.2%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.7% in 2001. The percentage of Wyre Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 3.5% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Wyre Forest increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wyre Forest, the West Midlands and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Wyre Forest saw the West Midlands' joint largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, alongside Cannock Chase.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) in Wyre Forest reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.0% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 2.3% to 2.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Wyre Forest remained close to 2.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wyre Forest by care, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

Wyre Forest saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (30%) households in Wyre Forest had only one person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple increased from 9.4% to 10%.

Across the region, only Staffordshire Moorlands (from 25% to 28%) and Stafford (from 26% to 29%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of one-person households.

During this period, Wyre Forest overtook nine local authority areas, including Dudley and Shropshire, to become the West Midlands local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of one-person households.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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